Ethereal Excellence
Meet Your Favorite Flower Girl
Sydney Roberts on creating one-of-a-kind works of art that reflect the complexity of nature.
By Emma Geary
Photograph by Kelly Russo Photo
I could lose track of time staring at a bundle of fresh tulips. The way blooms are whimsically draped on a bed of greenery, almost breathing in a vase as they evolve, day after day, is something that will never get old. When I can’t get my flower fix in person, one of my favorite follows on Instagram is @cosmosfloral: part floral design, part fine art, all sustainable. Whether it’s a styled shoot, wedding, or bouquet, her ethereal photos fill my “Saved” IG folder and regularly appear in my phone wallpaper rotation. While her work looks effortless, floral design hasn’t always been Sydney’s main jam. “My work ethic is deeply tied to my passion, and in previous corporate roles, I was always told that I was too much, or not enough. I finally took a moment to reflect on what grounds and inspires me, and it’s being in nature, being creative, and supporting sustainability. I started thinking about ways those two values could align.”
“Ironically, whenever a job didn’t work out or I was having a bad day, I’d buy a bunch of flowers at the farmer’s market or a grocery store, take them apart, and make my own arrangement. Floral design was always something I loved, but I had no idea if I could turn it into a business. I decided on a whim to reach out to my friend Emma Kelsey, who owns Kindred Blooms. She invited me to assist her at a wedding, and I was instantly hooked.
Photograph by Jes Clewell Photo
From there, Sydney took online courses, freelanced with Apricot Floral, Kindred Blooms, and other incredible local designers, and applied her marketing expertise from corporate jobs past to launching her own business. In 2022, Cosmos Floral was born.
At the heart of Cosmos Floral is Roberts’ commitment to sustainability. She operates as a no-floral-foam designer, avoiding the toxic, non-biodegradable material traditionally used in large-scale arrangements. Instead, she prioritizes locally grown flowers sourced from Twin Cities Floral Exchange and Northerly Flora, minimizing environmental impact while supporting local farmers. Seasonal availability is another guiding principle—she leans into what’s naturally flourishing at any given time, ensuring the highest quality and the most meaningful designs.
“I love that working with local flowers means each event has something unique, and we’re at the mercy of what’s available that week in the best way,” she says.“The flowers capture a moment in time.”
Photograph by Tom Thornton Photography
Her sustainability efforts go beyond sourcing. She’s eliminated painted, dyed, and bleached florals—anything that can’t be composted has no place in her designs. Last year alone, Roberts used over 21,000 locally grown stems, and in 2025, she’s tracking her compost output to create a year-end sustainability report.
Creatively, Roberts draws inspiration from Dutch Master paintings, the Baroque era, and fellow floral designers in Minnesota and beyond. She lets each season and its surprises shape her work, refusing to promise specific blooms—only textures, colors, and a design that feels like fine art.
“My creative process is laid-back. I let the flowers guide me,” she says. “It sounds cheesy, but it’s true.”
With Cosmos Floral, Roberts has carved out a space where creativity and sustainability bloom together, redefining what it means to design with nature in mind.
Emma Geary
Emma is Collective Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief and LAB’s Brand + Editorial Manager. She loves getting lost in a story and is sharing her own on her Substack, Hot Girl Walk. Find her staring at the sun on her daily lap around Lake of the Isles.
